The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-05-25

support, was unable to practice with the
Others, and used the gymnasium at odd
times by himself. One day he accident-
ally broke piece of apparatus, and in
accordance with the rules was promptly
expelled from the club.
The lad is now DIR. Dudley A. Sargent,
director of the Hemenway Gymnasium
and professor of physical training at
Harvard University. The accident and
its result supplied the impetus which has
made him the leading gymnasium d.
rector Of the United States and revoln-
tionized the entire system of physical
training throughout the country. Piqued
at the expulsion from his club, young
Sargent gathered together some pieces of
simple apparatus in a barn and set him
self at regular and vigorous practice.
When the club gave an exhibition, few
weeks later, he waited till the members
had finished their display, and then step
ped forward and easily surpassed their
most striking feats. This gained for
him applause at home and reputation
outside of Belfast, so that little later
he became the gymnastic instructor at
Bowdoin College, fitting himself mean
while, with a private tutor, to enter col
lege as student. Whileat Bowdoin, where
he was graduated with honor in 1875, he
laid a substantial foundation for the spe-
cial work to which his life is devoted. In
1872 he was invited to assume charge of
the gymnasium at Yale College, and for
three years lived the triple existence of
a Woodworking student, and of instructor
In the gymnasiums of Bowdoin College
at Brunswick, Me-, and Yale College at
New Haven, Conn. He then entered the
Yale Medical School, from which he was
graduated in 1878. While at New Haven
he saw the imperfcctions In the old sys-
tenn of gymnastie training, and set him
self the task of evolving something bet
ter Young men we're then trained in
groups. Apparatus was provided and
the men were required to adjust them
selves 70 1t. The result was sometimes
high degree of physical development.
Often no benefit was gained, while In
some cases serious injury resulted from
over-exertion. Or, Sargent conceived
and developed the idea of individualism
in physical culture. He introduced ex-
aminations to discover wherein each one
was deficient, and arranged the appara-
tus and exercise to develop that part or
function. The new idea involved rev.
olution Dr. Sargent laid the subject
before the faculty of Yale College, and
proposed TO introduce the system at New
Haven. II was fayorably reported on by
the committee appointed to investigate
IL, but the conservative element prevailed,
and Yale rejected the greatest opportu-
nifty she ever enjoyed for becoming q
pioneer In the development of the body.
A year later DIR. Sargent established
the Fifth-aycnue Gymnasium, In New
York, on the present site of the Madison
square Theatre, and put his new idea
into practical use, considering 1t at that
time only as therapeutic agent for the
cure of local defects. In September,
1870, he accepted an appointment as
director of the new Hemenway Gymna-
stun, and assistant professor of physical
training at Harvard University, Cam
bridge. Here the new system found
its full scope and speedily proved its
value. New apparatus was invented,
and the old familiar appliances were i'm
proved to conform to higher require
ments. The system involves series Of
measurements by which the physical con-
dition of the candidate Is determined,
and In accordance with which the exer-
else he needs ia prescribed The result